Grade 9 Geological Forces and Glaciation

Geological Forces and Glaciation
Weathering:
- Breaking down of rocks, minerals and soil into little pieces
Three types of weathering:
1. Physical - freezing/thawing, wind, ice,
2. Chemical - Acid rain, rust, water
3. Biological - plants, animals, humans, roots
Erosion:
- Caused by water, wind, ice and rain
- Earth is worn by these forces
- Minerals from one location are transported to another location
- Erosion requires movement, opposite from weathering

Glaciers:
- Dense ice found on mountains, valleys and in cold climates like Arctic
- Glaciers scrape and gouge the land
- Glaciers can shape landscapes through erosion, or remove rock and sediment
- Meltwater from the glacier can move pieces of land to other places

Geological History of Canada
Precambrian Era
- Earliest life
- Time period: Started 4600 million years ago and ended 600 million years ago
- Major geological events: Precambrian shields such as the Canadain shields
are formed
- Major biological events: Primitive life forms appear in the oceans, no fossils
present
Paleozoic Era
- Ancient life
- Time period: 600 million years ago - 225 million years ago
- Major geological events: Mountian building, Appalachains fomed, shallow seas
covered North Ameriuca
- Major biological events: Age of fish, first plants, and animals appear on land,
fossils present
Mesozoic Era
- Middle life
- Time Period: 225 million years ago - 70 million years ago